Police were dispatched to the 1000 block of Sonoma Ave. Tuesday at around 12:45 a.m. after a report of an auto burglary that was interrupted by residents. Police said two people living in the area were awoken by a person opening and closing car doors in front of their residence. The residents went outside and saw the suspect, rummaging through the inside of one of their vehicles. The residents also noticed a second vehicle belonging to them that also appeared to have been ransacked.
Police said Penaloza was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine as well as an item belonging to one of the burglary victims. Penaloza also had cash, two watches, a small handheld fan, sunglasses, headphones, a flashlight, a necklace, and rosary beads. Based on their initial investigation, police believed Penaloza stole the above-mentioned items from an undetermined number of unlocked vehicles over the course of several hours before being stopped by police.